ISLAMABAD / WASHINGTON: The Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) has recommended that Pakistan should demand an unconditional apology from the United States for the Nato attack on Salala check post which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers on November 26, 2011.

PCNS Chairman Senator Raza Rabbani, reading the recommendations during a joint session of Parliament on Tuesday, stated that the attack was a “breach of international law and constitutes blatant violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. The statement added that the Pakistani government should not only seek an apology but those behind the attack must also be brought to justice.

“Pakistan should be given assurances that such attack or any other attack impinging on Pakistan’s sovereignty will not reoccur and the Nato, ISAF, US will take effective measures to avoid any such measures.”

The committee also said that it wants the US to put a stop to drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

It also recommends that there should be transparency on the number of foreign intelligence operators in Pakistan and prior permission be awarded and says no covert operations will be tolerated inside the country.

The United States must review its footsteps in Pakistan which means the cessation of US drone strikes inside the territorial borders of Pakistan, (ii) no hot pursuit of boots on Pakistani territory, (iii) the activity of foreign private security contractors must be transparent and subject to Pakistani law. It needs to realise that drones are counter-productive, cause loss of valuable lives and property, radicalises the local population, create support for terrorists and fuel anti-US sentiments.

The statement also said that at least 50% of Nato containers passing through Pakistan may be handled through Pakistan Railways and added: “Any consideration of the reopening of Nato, ISAF, US containers must be contingent on a thorough revision of terms and conditions of the agreement including regulation and control on movement of goods.”

The statement said: “Taxes and other charges must be levied on all goods imported in or transmitting through Pakistan for the use of infrastructure and to compensate for its deterioration.”

The bicameral parliamentary committee was constituted to review terms of engagement with the US before going for normalisation of bilateral ties.

The revised terms of engagements also stated that all agreements including military cooperation and logistics will be circulated to the foreign ministry and concerned authorities. “All agreements will be vetted by the Ministry of Law and Justice and parliamentary affair.”

Relationships with the USA should be based on mutual respect for sovereignty, for independence and territorial integrity for each other.

The report emphasises that Pakistan’s nuclear program and assets including its safety and security cannot be compromised. “The US-Indo civil nuclear agreement has significantly altered the strategic balance in the region, therefore, Pakistan should seek from the US and others a similar treatment.”

It said that the strategic position of Pakistan regarding India on the subject of FMCT must not be compromised and this principle be kept in view in negotiations on this matter.

The report also reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to the elimination of terrorism and combating extremism in pursuance of its national interest.

‘Relationship with Pakistan extremely important’

Hours after the parliamentary committee’s recommendations on US-Pakistan relations were presented in parliament, the US Department of Defense termed its relationship with Pakistan as extremely important.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, DoD spokesperson Captain John Kirby said, “Our relationship with Pakistan remains extremely important to us. We have been patiently respecting the Pakistani government’s process and will continue to do so. The parliamentary debate opened today and is still ongoing, so we’ll refrain from commenting on any particular reports until that process has completed.”

Vienna,March 20,2012
Ten long years Pakistan had to keep its commitment on eliminating
terrorism.When drones eliminate them Pakistan hosts them as
esteemed Muslim guests of a sovereign law unto itself nation.The
parliament should have made it clear now it treats all Friends of
Democratic Pakistan as Enemies of Democratic Pakistan.
Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India
–Kulamarva Balakrishna

Now USA has mean so they playing again. Otherwise why did it take too long to apologize? Iran-Pak gas pipe line and relations between these both countries are not been digested by USA easily and NATO supply, who can forget that, they finally realized that a free way is always welcome than pricey!

@Tehreek-e-Insaf FATA: “Then tell your American People to PROVE that OBL was killed here. :)”

Your country has establ;ished a high powered commission on this issue. DO you think it did so WITHOUT proof that he was killed there? The widows of Bin Laden were also in the custody of Pak agencies. IF Bin Laden had not been killed in Pakistan, do you think the agencies would not have broadcast the fact? Your conspiracy theory really does not stand the test of reason.

I am all for drones – and can see the soft stance commission also has taken over the issue. But we need to push for drone technology be transferred to Pakistan if this has to continue.

On NATO Supplies, yes they need to be heavily taxed but against cash we should ask for ask for pre-paid gas, oil, nuclear reactors (deal similar to that given to India), arms and most importantly trade concessions.

Finally US needs to curtail India presence in Afghanistan, as they together with old allies / remains of northern alliance as responsible for a lot happening in Baluchistan. We need to use this opportunity to secure our national interest in case of US exit from Afghanistan, we can not live with yet another mass migration of Afghan refugees, and all the challenges that
comes with such mass movement.

In all the long over due view from the parliamentary committee comes out to be weak and not comprehensive enough!!

Pakistan’s parliament knows no shame, does it? Just like other national legislatures…

If Pakistan is going to own up to its own role in the drones & related issues the answers aren’t going to come from a parliament that was too scared or embarrassed to openly embrace them in the first place. Pakistanis will have to do the job themselves in some other fashion. In the meantime, such a “demand” should be treated by the U.S. with the supreme disdain it deserves. For by openly battling militants U.S. and Pakistani soldiers are taking risks which Pakistan’s politicians refuse to share.

@Zeta: Osama uncle was there and you should not be posting comments as your mullah brothers will be very upset and call you an infidel for going to school and learning to read and write the great Satan’s language. it is individuals like you that want to take pakistan back to the stone ages with one hand , while your other hand has a visa application to go to the west.

Did Pakistan deserve what it is facing today? Look back into the history since its independence. This country was made on the basis of an Islamic ideology, but the things are going against its ideology. If you don’t create your own resources to survive, you have to depend on someone else and that someone else can stire you in whatever direction they want.Become a nation first so that you can decide your own fortune.

There are two solutions to the problem of terrorists using lawless Pakistani territory to train, plan and launch terrorist attacks: 1) the Pakistani government takes them out; 2) the US takes them out. Pick one.

All those who are thinking that USA would ever offer an apology are living in fools paradise. America shall wait out until the November elections. After Obama wins the 2nd term, there will be nothing to hold him back from taking any action he determines is in the interest of USA. Pakistanis have no idea how determined Obama is. Though usually calm and composed, he has repeatedly proved that he can take bold actions and is never afraid of taking risks. It is also possible that by that time, he may have already taken care of Zawahiri and even Mulla Omar, one way or other.

Drone is not a technology exclusively developed through the research conducted in US ,then how it can be transfered to Pakistan . It’s a product of international joint venture finaced by USA , that is why it is being operated by a team of international experts at Newada desert . This team includes some Indian and Pakistani technologist and streategists as well , I hope you will understand that the classified informations should remain classified , …..?: